Mechanical turning tool unit



Sept. 13, 1966 J. J. BRUEHL 3,272,037

MECHANICAL TURNING TOOL UNIT Filed May 20, 1964 f Z3 INVENTOR. 25' Jmou;BRUEHL L L BY 1 dyndr' us Slat-k2 Affarnevs United States Patent Ofifice3,272,537 Patented Sept. 13, 1966 3,272,037 NECHANICAL TURNING TOOL UNITJerome J. Bruehl, 726 Vailey Road, Menasha, Wis. Filed May 20, 1964,Ser. No. 368,934 7 Claims. (CI. 81-57) This invention relates to amechanical turning tool and particularly to such a tool which is adaptedto be employed in an area of limited working space and which has a highspeed, low torque characteristic and low speed, high torquecharacteristic.

In the connection of parts by screws, bolts and the like, a wrench,screwdriver or similar tool is generally employed to provide a firminterconnection or tightening of the element. In connection withmachinery subject to vibration and environmental changes of temperatureand the like such as in automobile and other commercial devices ormachines, attachments must be particularly firmly made with asubstantial force to assure an adequate and reliable connection. Inlimited spaces, the problem becomes particularly acute because the usualtool cannot at times be employed conveniently. United States Patent1,698,618 discloses a tool for use in such limited areas and includes aworm and gear connection between an actuating shaft and an output unit.The tool may then be connected to a work element in a limited spacewhile disposing the actuating member in spaced relation thereto andparticularly in an area where another tool or force can be applied andtransmitted through the worm and gear arrangemnt. A rack and pinionuni-t for actuating a screwdriver or the like is shown in United StatesPatent 2,406,149.

Although such tools have been suggested, they are relatively slow actingand thus increase the time and expense of maintenance and repair work ordo not provide adequate force transmission to produce a firm engagement.

The present invention is particularly directed to a rugged and reliablethree-way mechanical turning tool which can be employed in limitedspaces. The tool of this invention will provide a very rapid actuationof a connecting device or the like during the initial in-terengagingaction when a relatively low torque input is required while permittingapplication of a high tightening force or torque during the terminalportion thereof, all without removal of the tool.

A limited space output tool connector is coupled by a worm and geararrangement to an actuating shaft. The worm is secured to the shaftwhich is slidably mounted within a support for reciprocation withrespect to the gear forming a part of the tool connector. A ratchetconnects the gear to a tool or tool coupling member. Thus, the tool workengaging element is preferably releasably connected to the toolconnector through a socket arrangement or the like. A stop member isalso provided to prevent longitudinal movement of the actuating shaft inone direction from a normal position. The actuating rod can bereciprocated with respect to such stop to provide rapid turning of thedrive gear and the attached mechanism. However, the rod can also beturned about its own axis to rotate the worm and thereby drive the gearwith a relatively high force. Further, the actuating rod may serve as alever to turn the tool as such about the axis of the tool.

The present invention thus provides an improved turning tool which canbe employed in a limited space area to selectively provide a greattightening force or a rapid, lesser tightening force to a work member.

The drawing furnished herewith illustrates a preferred construction forcarrying out the present invention and clearly discloses the advantagesand features heretofore discussed as well as others which will be clearto those skilled in the art from the following description.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the turning tool of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a left side elevational view of the unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 33 of FIG. 2 withthe internal components generally shown in elevation for clarity ofillustration; and

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3 through theworm and gear shown in FIGS. 13 and more clearly illustrating themounting and connection of the components.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the turningtool of the present invention is illustrated having a conventionalsocket wrench, shown in phantom in FIG. 2, releasably secured theretofor receiving the head of a bolt or other suitable work element, notshown. The socket wrench 1 is coupled to a drive gear 2 forming a partof a tool connector unit 3 which is adapted to be disposed within alimited and narrow work area. The drive gear 2 and the socket 1 areinterconnected through a ratchet unit 4, shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, suchthat rotation of the drive gear in the one direction will effect aturning of the socket 1 whereas rotation of the drive gear to theopposite direction maintains the socket in the original position, asmore fully described hereinafter. The connector unit 3 is secured to anactuating unit 5 and particularly a tubular housing 6 which extendsgenerally tangentially of the drive gear 2. An actuating shaft or rod 7is slidably and rotatably mounted within the housing 6 and carries aworm 8 on the innermost end operatively meshing with the drive gear 2.The end of the housing 6 adjacent the connector unit 3 and drive gear 2is open to allow free passage of shaft 7 and worm 8 therethrough. Theopposite or outer end of the housing 6 is closed by a suitable cap 9which is shown secured to the outer end by a threaded connection. A stop10 is secured to the rod 7 within the housing 6 and located to engagethe inner surface of the cap 9 in the standby position of the tool withthe gear 2 mating with the lower end of worm 8, as shown in FIG. 3.

Generally, the actuating rod 7 can be reciprocated within housing 6 toprovide a corresponding rotation or angular oscillation of the gear 2within the connector unit 3. The connection through the ratchet unit 4causes the transfer of the rotation in one direction, clockwise in FIG.3, to the socket wrench 1 while the opposite counterclockwise rotationaccompanying the return of the actuating rod 8 to the standby positiondoes not move the socket wrench 1. This permits rapid actuation of thesocket wrench 1 and therefore the element associated therewith. However,this does not provide convenient means of applying a large turningtorque on the socket wrench 1 and therefore on the element. Inaccordance with the present invention, however, the rod 7 can be turnedabout its own axis to transmit a force of very substantial magnitudethrough the worm 8 to gear 2 as a result of the action of the stop 10.When the rod 7 is turned in the counterclockwise direction as viewed inFIGS. 1 and 2, the interaction of the worm and the drive gear will tendto cause the shaft to move longitudinally outwardly through the cap. Thestop will engage the inner surface of the cap however and prevent thelongitudinal movement of the rod such that the turning forces will causethe drive gear to rotate. The only limitation on the torque which can betransmitted will be on the actual material strength and mechanicalstrengths of the stop connection. Further, the housing 6 or rod 7 can beemployed as a lever to turn the tool about the axis of socket wrench 1in the principal plane of the connector unit 3 and housing 6.

The invention thus provides a tool which can provide either a high forceor a high speed actuation without removal of'the tool from the workelement.

More particularly, the illustrated embodiment of the invention isdescribed as follows.

The outer end of the actuating rod 7 is threaded with a cross pin orhandle 11 extending through an opening generally centrally of thethreaded portion and a pair of hex nuts 12 and 13 which are threadedonto the shaft immediately .to the opposite side of the handle 11. Areturn coil spring 14 encircles the actuating rod 8 between the innerhex nut 13 and the outer face of the cap 9. The force of the coil spring14 continuously biases the actuating rod 7 outwardly to the standbyposition with the outer end of the worm 8 meshing with the adjacent gear2 and with the stop 10 engaging the inner surface of the cap 9.

The stop 10 is shown as a collar or ring member interconnected to theshaft by a set screw 15 which threads through the collar and into asmall recess in the surface of the actuating rod. This provides a firminterengagement. If desired, an integral construction of the rod 7 andthe stop 10 can be provided.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the threaded cap 9 issimilarly locked in place by a set screw 17 which threads through theside wall of the cap and moves into bearing engagement with the adjacentend portion of the housing 6. The base of the cap 9 includes a topopening 18 through which the actuating rod 7 extends and is radiallysupported.

The worm 8 is rotatably secured to the outer end of the rod 7 by a key16 such that all turning forces applied to the rod 7 are transmitted tothe worm 8. A collar 19 is secured to the innermost end of the rod 7 bya set screw 20 in the same manner as collar stop .10 and prevents theworm 8 from moving longitudinally therefrom. A similar collar 21 issimilarly secured to rod 7 at the opposite end of worm 8. Additionally,spacer 22 is concentrically disposed on the rod 7 between the collar 21and the collar stop 10 to support the components against movementaxially of the actuating rod 7 The outer extension of the actuating rod7 is related to the length of the worm 8 to maintain interengagementbetween the gear 2 and the worm 8 for all longitudinal positions of theactuating rod 7 with respect to housing 6 and gear '2.

A metal bearing tube or liner 23 is secured to the inner surface of thehousing 6 in the area of the worm 8. The liner 23 provides an accuratesliding and turning fit for the worm 8 and minimizes tolerancerequirements in manufacturing. If housing 6 is formed of a suitablematerial, liner 23 may obviously be integrally formed with the housing.

The portion of the housing 6 and attached liner 23 is removed in thearea of the gear 2 and the worm 8 to define a gear opening 24 throughwhich the gear 2 passes into operating meshing engagement with the worm8. The gear 2 is rotatably supported within the connector unit 3 whichin the illustrated embodiment of the invention includes a multiple parthousing connected to hous ing 6.

Generally, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the housingof connector unit 3 includes a pair of complementing side wall members25 and 26. As the members are similarly formed, member 25 will bedescribed and corresponding portions of member 26 similarly numberedwith a prime added to distinguish therebetween.

Thus, side wall member 25 includes a coupling or attachment portion 27curved in accordance with the circumfercnce of the housing 6 andextending from opening 24 for about The side coupling portion 27 issecured to the housing 6 in any suitable manner; for example, by aplurality of attachment screws 28 which pass through suitable openingsin the coupling portion 27 and thread into correspondingly tappedopenings in the adjacent portion of the housing 5. A flat enclosureplate portion 29 extends generally radially from the edge of thecoupling portion 27 adjacent opening '24.

The side wall 26 is similarly secured to the opposite side of thehousing with the gear enclosure plate portions 29 and 29' laterallyspaced in superposed relation to each other generally in accordance withthe thickness of the drive gear 2 which is housed therebetween. An outercurved end wall 30 is clamped between the enclosure plate portions 29and 29' by a plurality of clamping bolt and nut units 31 which extendthrough the outer peripheral portions thereof. As shown most clearly inFIG. 3, the ends of the end wall 30 may be curved outwardly about theadjacent clamping units 31 to lock the wall in place. The end wall 30also properly spaces the enclosure plate portions 29 and 29 to properlysupport the gear 2 therebetween.

Gear hubs 32 and 33 are bolted or otherwise secured to the opposite sideof the drive gear 2 and extend outwardly through bearing openings 34 and34' in enclosure plate portions 29 and 29'. Hubs 32 and 33 provide afree floating bearing support for the gear 2 which will eliminate thenecessity for close tolerances of the assembly while holding the gear 2in the desired meshing relation with the worm 8. The drive gear hubs 32and 33 also clamp the ratchet unit 4 in proper relation within the drivegear 2 as follows.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, the gear 2 is provided with arecess 35 in the one face thereof to receive a ratchet gear 36 which isclamped therein by the adjacent drive gear hub 33. The ratchet gear 36is provided with a central hex opening 37 aligned with somewhat largercylindrical openings 38 and 39 in the hubs 32 and 33 for releasableinterconnection of a suitable socket wrench 1, screwdriver or otherturning tool, having a correspondingly shaped shank. A ratchet recess 40is provided as a part of and extending outwardly as an enlargement ofthe ratchet gear recess 35. A pair of ratchets 41 is disposed thereinwith one end engaging the outer tooth portion of the ratchet gear 36 andthe opposite ends pivotally mounted by a pin 42. A pair of coil springs43 acts between the back side of the ratchets 41 and the adjacentportion or side wall of the ratchet recess 40 to continuously urge thecoupling end of the ratches 41 into engagement with the teeth of theratchet gear 36.

As most clearly illustrated in FIG. 3, clockwise rotation of the drivegear 2 will be transmitted through the pair of ratchets 41 and theratchet gear 36 to the attached tool or wrench 1, with the illustratedratchet assembly or unit 4. The clockwise rotation of the drive gear 2is effected by pushing inwardly on the actuating rod 7, turning of theactuating rod 7 about its own axis in a counterclockwise direction withthe stop 19 engaging the cap 9, or turning of the novel tool clockwiseabout the axis of the socket opening 37.

In summary, the invention as shown in the drawing permits the rod 7 tobe reciprocated in a longitudinal direction in accordance with thepositioning of the stop 10 and the extension of the rod 7. Duringreciprocating movement the worm 8 functions as a rack and rotates gear2,

ratchet unit 4 and the wrench 1 in a clockwise direction during downwardmovement of rod 7, as viewed in FIG. 3. Return or upward movement of rod7 turns only gear 2 in the counterclockwise direction.

Rotating of the rod 7 about its own axis, by directly turning handle 11or by using a wrench on nut 12, with the rod retracted such that thestop engages the inner surface of the cap 9 rotates worm 8 to drive thegear 2 in a clockwise direction and thereby similarly actuate tool 1.The turning force which can be applied in the latter manner is greaterthan that of the former, although generally not as rapid. Additionally,if the working area permits the tool may be employed as a more or lessconventional ratchet tool with the force applied to rod 7 or housing 6to oscillate the complete tool about the axis of the opening 37.

The socket opening 37 extends through the unit 3 to allow insertion ofthe wrench 1 or the like from either side for selective rotationthereof.

Although the embodiment of the invention has been illustrated with asubstantial number of components, the several interconnected componentsmay be integrally connected if desired. Thus, the three piece housing ofunit 3 or the several components attached to rod 7 may be formed asintegrated members. Further, if desired, finger grips or wings may beapplied to small tools of this construction for holding the tool withthe thumb or palm of the hand on the end of the tool for rapid andconvenient reciprocation of the operating rod or shaft. Such changes andmodifications will be clear to those skilled in the art and no furtherdescription thereof is given.

The present invention thus provides an improved and novel turning toolhaving high speed and torque characteristics. The three-way operationpermits the use of the tool in practically any minimum working areawhile assuring the obtaining of a firm and positive turning of the work.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as beingWithin the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out anddistinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention.

Iclaim:

1. A multiple action turning tool unit comprising,

an elongated support adapted to be manually manipulated,

a gear rotatably mounted in one end of the support and having ratchetmeans for coupling a turning tool means thereto,

an operating shaft slidably and rotatably mounted to the support forlimited reciprocating movement,

a worm secured to the shaft and mating with said gear,

said worm projecting from the gear for a length permitting said worm toserve as a rack to turn the gear upon reciprocal movement of the shaft,and

stop means on the shaft and support limiting movement of the operatingshaft in both directions to thereby permit limited reciprocation andproviding a reacting stop upon turning of the shaft to preventlongitudinal movement of the shaft and thereby transmitting shaftrotation to the gear.

2. The tool unit of claim 1 wherein the support is a tubular housinghaving an end closure for said stop means with the shaft journaledtherein and having a cooperating stop secured to an intermediate portionof the shaft and located within the housing,

a turning means secured to the outer end of the shaft,

and

a resilient means acting between the closure and the turning means andresiliently holding the shaft outwardly of the housing with thecooperating stop engaging the end closure in the absence of a positiveinward force applied to the shaft.

3. The tool unit of claim 2 having,

a cylindrical bearing means in the housing to slidably and rotatablysupport the worm and having an opening through which the gears extendinto mating engagement with the worm 4. The tool unit of claim 3 havinga generally flat gear enclosure connected with the housing at thebearing means opening and extending radially therefrom with the geardisposed therein, said enclosure having side Wall openings aligned withthe gear axis, and

hubs secured to the gear and extending outwardly through the openings tosupport the gear.

5. A multiple action turning tool unit, comprising an elongated supporthaving a stop member at one end and a bearing member at the oppositeend,

a gear rotatably supported on the support with the gear axis normal tothe bearing member and having the periphery partially projecting intothe bearing member,

a ratchet secured to the gear and having an attachment means forselective and releasable attachment of a turning tool thereto,

an operating shaft slidably and rotatably mounted to said support andprojecting through the bearing member and outwardly of the stop member,

a worm secured to the shaft and slidably journaled within the bearingmember in mating engagement with the gear,

cooperating stop means secured to the shaft and engaging the stop memberwith the worm meshing with the gear and with the shaft projectingoutwardly of the stop member,

resilient means coupled to the shaft and support and urging the shaft inthe axial direction to hold the stop means engaging the stop member, and

said worm extending to at least one side of the gear whereby said gearturns in response to reciprocation of the shaft, rotation of the shaftabout its own axis and rotation of the shaft and handle about the axisof the gear.

6. A multiple action turning tool unit for turning of a tool member,comprising a hollow cylindrical housing having a stop member adjacentone end and terminating at its forward end in a laterally projectingcase,

a gear journaled within the case with the gear axis normal to the handleaxis and having a central aperture,

a ratchet mounted within the aperture and having a socket opening forselective and releasable attachment of a tool member from either sidethereof,

an operating shaft mounted within said handle and projecting past thestop member,

resilient means coupled to the shaft and engaging the stop member andurging the shaft outwardly,

a stop secured to the shaft within the housing and engaging the stopmember with the forward end of the shaft and housing aligned and withthe opposite end of the shaft extending outwardly of the stop member,and

a worm secured to the forward end of the shaft and slidably jo-urnaledwithin the forward end of the housing in mating engagement with thegear, said worm being of a length substantially corresponding to theoutward extension of the operating shaft whereby said gear turns inresponse to reciprocation of the shaft rotation of the shaft about itsown axis and rotation of the shaft and housing about the axis of thegear.

7. A multiple action turning tool for turning of a tool member in alimited space, comprising a hollow cylindrical housing having an outerend closure member and terminating at its forward end in a laterallyprojecting case,

a gear journaled within the case with the gear axis normal to thehousing axis and having a central aperture,

a ratchet mounted within the aperture and having a socket opening forselective and releasable attachment of a tool member from either sidethereof,

an operating shaft mounted within said housing and projecting throughthe closure member at the outer end, said shaft having a smallerdiameter than said housan operating handle secured to the outer end ofthe shaft,

a coil spring encircling the shaft between the handle and the closuremember and urging the shaft outwardy,

a stop secured to the shaft within the housing and engaging the closuremember With the forward end of the shaft and housing aligned and withthe shaft extended outwardly of the closure member and the coil springextended, and

a worm secured to the forward end of the shaft and slidably journaledwithin the forward end of the housing in mating engagement With thegear, said worm being of a length substantially corresponding to theoutward extension of the operating shaft where- References Cited by theExaminer UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1922 Terry 8l57 12/1961 Abraham 74425 X7/ 1964 Dixon 74425 FOREIGN PATENTS 4/1914 France.

1903 Great Britain.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

JAMES L. JONES, JR., Examiner.

1. A MULTIPLE ACTION TURNING TOOL UNIT COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED SUPPORTADAPTED TO BE MANUALLY MANIPULATED, A GEAR ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN ONE ENDOF THE SUPPORT AND HAVING RATCHET MEANS FOR COUPLING A TURNING TOOLMEANS THERETO, AN OPERATING SHIFT SLIDABLY AND ROTATABLY MOUNTED TO THESUPPORT FOR LIMITED RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT, A WORM SECURED TO THE SHAFTAND MATING WITH SAID GEAR, SAID WORM PROJECTING FROM THE GEAR FOR ALENGTH PERMITTING SAID WORM TO SERVE AS A RACK TO TURN THE GEAR UPONRECIPROCAL MOVEMENT OF THE SHAFT, AND STOP MEANS ON THE SHAFT ANDSUPPORT LIMITING MOVEMENT OF THE OPERATING SHAFT IN BOTH DIRECTIONS TOTHEREBY PERMIT LIMITED RECIPROCATION AND PROVIDING A REACTING STOP UPONTURNING OF THE SHAFT TO PREVENT LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF THE SHAFT ANDTHEREBY TRANSMITTING SHAFT ROTATION OF THE GEAR.